Paralipsis in literature emerges where a writer intentionally draws attention to something while claiming to pass over it or ignore it. Through this technique, authors create a sense of irony or emphasize a point indirectly. By explicitly stating that certain information will be omitted or ignored, the author sparks curiosity in the reader and encourages them to consider the undisclosed details. This device allows for layers of meaning to be conveyed, as readers engage in the act of decoding hidden messages and subtext within the text.
Paralipsis in Literature: Shakespearean Examples
Play
Context
Example
Hamlet
Hamlet uses paralipsis to address his mother’s remarriage and the ghost’s revelation about King Claudius.
Original: “I will not speak with her.” Paralipsis: “I will not speak with her but speak of her.”
Othello
Iago employs paralipsis to insinuate Cassio’s involvement with Desdemona without making direct accusations.
Original: “I know not that; but such a handkerchief—I am sure it was your wife’s—did I today see Cassio wipe his beard with.” Paralipsis: “If it be that.”
Julius Caesar
Mark Antony uses paralipsis to subtly criticize the conspirators while claiming he won’t denounce them.
Original: “I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts. I am no orator, as Brutus is.” Paralipsis: “I am no orator, as Brutus is, but, as you know me all, a plain, blunt man.”
Macbeth
Macbeth employs paralipsis to indirectly reveal his murderous intentions regarding King Duncan.
Original: “That which would be feared.” Paralipsis: “I say, we will have no more marriages.”
Richard III
Richard uses paralipsis to subtly accuse Queen Elizabeth of being responsible for the deaths of her relatives.
Original: “But, madam, you are not so aggrieved; / There is no cause.” Paralipsis: “But, madam, I know when, and therefore know well, that she knows.”
Paralipsis in Literature: Examples
· The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
Context: Nick Carraway introduces Gatsby’s mysterious past without directly delving into the details.
Example: “I’m not going to tell you his whole biography; I’ll simply say that he’s the son of some wealthy people.”
· To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee:
Context: Scout narrates a confrontation without explicitly stating the outcome.
Example: “I won’t tell you how I fought Cecil Jacobs, but I can tell you I nearly forgot to say my prayers that night.”
· 1984 by George Orwell:
Context: Orwell uses paralipsis to address the surveillance state without explicitly discussing its implications.
Example: “I won’t dwell on the Thought Police, but let’s just say they have their ways.”
· The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger:
Context: Holden Caulfield mentions certain events without providing explicit details.
Example: “I won’t talk about what I did after I went home that night, but you can bet it was pretty depressing.”
· One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez:
Context: García Márquez uses paralipsis to allude to a character’s fate without explicit disclosure.
Example: “I won’t say how or when, but Renata Remedios would be lost forever.”
· Brave New World by Aldous Huxley:
Context: Huxley introduces a significant element of the society without explicitly detailing it.
Example: “I won’t go into the specifics of the conditioning, but suffice it to say it begins at a very young age.”
· The Great Expectations by Charles Dickens:
Context: Pip hints at an important revelation without explicitly disclosing it.
Example: “I won’t go into the details of my benefactor’s identity, but let’s just say it was both surprising and life-changing.”
· The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne:
Context: Hawthorne uses paralipsis to allude to Hester Prynne’s sin without explicitly naming it.
Example: “I won’t specify the nature of her transgression, but the scarlet letter she wore spoke volumes.”
· The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway:
Context: Hemingway uses paralipsis to allude to the sharks without explicitly describing their actions.
Example: “I won’t go into the details of the battle with the sharks, but Santiago’s struggle was far from over.”
Paralipsis in Literature: Relevance in Literary Theories
Invites readers to actively engage with the text, filling in gaps and making interpretations. Paralipsis can create a sense of mystery, encouraging readers to participate in the construction of meaning.
Examines the structure of a text. Paralipsis can be seen as a structural element, affecting the overall composition by highlighting what is left unsaid. It contributes to the form and rhythm of the narrative.
Involves exploring the unconscious mind. Paralipsis can be a tool for unveiling repressed thoughts or desires indirectly, allowing authors to address sensitive or taboo subjects through veiled language.
Offers a lens for analyzing gender roles and power dynamics. Paralipsis can be used to critique or challenge traditional gender norms by subtly drawing attention to issues while appearing to disregard them.
Examines the impact of colonialism. Paralipsis can be a strategy for expressing resistance, allowing writers to convey suppressed voices and experiences without directly confronting colonial powers.
Focuses on social and economic structures. Paralipsis can be employed to critique class disparities indirectly, highlighting social issues without explicitly addressing them and thus avoiding censorship.
Emphasizes the instability of language and meaning. Paralipsis aligns with the idea that meaning is not fixed, as it involves drawing attention to what is deliberately left unsaid, leaving room for multiple interpretations.
Cultural Studies
Explores the intersection of culture, power, and identity. Paralipsis can be used to navigate complex cultural issues, allowing authors to address sensitive topics by both acknowledging and deflecting them.
Paralipsis in Literature: Relevant Terms
Paralipsis: Rhetorical device emphasizing a point by pretending to pass over it.
Irony: Conveying a meaning opposite to the literal sense of the words.
Subtext: Unspoken or implied message beneath the surface of the text.
Ambiguity: Deliberate use of unclear language, allowing for multiple interpretations.
Euphemism: Substituting a mild or indirect expression for a harsh or blunt one.
Satire: Use of humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize or mock people or society.
Understatement: Downplaying the importance of something for rhetorical effect.
Implication: Suggested meaning or significance not explicitly stated.
Sarcasm: Mocking or ridiculing through irony, often with a cutting edge.
Ellipsis: Omission of words for brevity or to create a sense of unfinished thought.
